Rice abruptly withdraws as secretary of state candidate

Published: December 14, 2012 3:00 AM

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Susan Rice, the embattled U.N. ambassador, abruptly withdrew from consideration to be the next secretary of state on Thursday after a bitter, weekslong standoff with Republican senators who declared they would vigorously fight her nomination.

The reluctant announcement makes Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry the likely choice to be the nation's next top diplomat when Hillary Rodham Clinton departs soon. Support for the possible choice of Rice had been waning.

In another major part of the upcoming Cabinet shake-up for President Barack Obama's second term, former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska now is seen as the front-runner to be defense secretary, with official word coming as soon as next week.

Obama has been weighing whether a Rice nomination would be worth the fight. He accepted her decision with a shot at Republicans.

"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character," he said.

If Obama taps Kerry, the president will create a potential problem for Democrats by opening a Senate seat -- one that recently defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown is eyeing.